Vehicle door lock actuator

ABSTRACT

A power operable door latch and lock mechanism for a vehicle having a central locking system includes a power actuator assembly including an actuating lever drivingly connected to blocking means of the mechanism, a main drive motor for selective powered movement of the lever between locked and unlocked positions, a manual locking lever for operative connection to a non-key controlled manually operable element, and a linkage serving to interconnect the manual lever and actuating lever for manual locking and unlocking independently of the drive motor. The linkage includes a sliding length connected at one end to the actuating lever and having a first guide slot accommodating a connecting pin of the linkage. A rocker arm of the manual locking lever has a second guide slot co-acting with the connecting pin with lost motion for selective transmission of movement of the manual lever to the linkage. The linkage further includes a superlocking lever having a third guide slot engaged with a pin, and positioned to shift the pin selectively in to and out of engagement with the manual lever to effectuate transmission to the link in a motor for selective powered movement of the superlocking lever.

This invention relates to locking systems for vehicle doors and otherclosures of the kind in which the individual locks are interconnectedthrough a central control unit for electrical actuation whereby lockingor unlocking of all doors can be effected from a single control stationactuated from within or outside the vehicle, herein referred to as"central locking systems"; and more specifically to the provision insaid system of a power operated lock actuator incorporating asuperlocking facility whereby the associated door latch cannot be freedfrom a locked condition even if access is gained to latch actuatingelements within the vehicle e.g. the interior door handle or sill buttonas by breaking a window or probing into or through the door.

The object of the invention is to provide an actuator having a remotelycontrollable powered superlocking facility which is convenient andreliable in operation, which can be used in association with existingpatterns of latch and locking mechanisms in substitution for knownpatterns of actuator unit, which provides a high standard of securityagainst tampering and attempted unauthorised entry to the vehicle, andwhich is readily adaptable to a variety of modes of operation of centrallocking systems and with various arrangements for manual override bydirect key actuation of the associated locking mechanism.

According to the invention there is provided a power actuator for use incombination with a door latch and lock mechanism of a vehicle having acentral locking system, said actuator comprising:

(a) an actuator lever operatively drivingly connected to the lockmechanism in use,

(b) a main drive motor for selective powered movement of said leverbetween locked and unlocked positions,

(c) a manual locking lever for operative connection no a non-keycontrolled manual element (e.g. a sill button or internal door handle),and

(d) linkage serving to interconnect said manual lever to the actuatinglever for manual locking and unlocking independently of said drivemotor,

characterised in that a rocker arm of the manual locking lever isdrive-connectable with the actuating lever through coupling means ofsaid linkage including a drive dog selectively shiftable between anengaged position at which motion is transmitted between the two leversfor locking and unlocking and a disengaged superlocking position atwhich the manual lever is free to move without displacement of theactuating lever from its locked position, the linkage further includinga superlocking lever movement of which carries the drive dog into andout of its drive transmitting condition, and a superlocking motor forselective powered movement of the superlocking lever.

Conveniently said linkage includes an elongate sliding link connected atone end to an arm of the actuating lever and guided for longitudinalmovement, said link defining a first guide slot extending generallylaterally thereof; said drive dog being a floating connecting pinengaged in said first slot; an arm of the manual locking lever inoverlapping relationship with the part of the link defining the firstguide slot defining a second guide slot co-acting with the connectingpin and shaped to provide a lost motion portion extending co-axially ofthe manual lever axis whereby when the pin is in said portion motion ofthe manual lever is not transmitted through the linkage, and a narrowportion extending radially of the lever from the lost motion portion forclose fitting motion transmitting engagement with the pin, thesuperlocking lever defining a third guide slot in engagement with thepin positioned to shift the latter selectively into and out of saidnarrow portion of the second guide slot but not restricting movement ofthe pin along the lost motion portion.

Preferably the linkage is arranged so that the superlocking can bemanually overridden, as by key actuated unlocking of the associated lockmechanism, without actuation of the superlocking motor; and/or so thatthe manual lever is cammed to align with the drive as the superlockinglever shifts to the drive transmitting condition if the manual levershould have been misaligned therewith in the superlocking condition.

An example of the invention is now more particularly described withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a vehicle central door locking system having asuperlocking facility,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of part of a door latch and lock assembly andan associated powered actuator forming part of said system, shown in anunlocked state,

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing only a linkage and directly associatedparts of the actuator in said state,

FIG. 4 is a like view to FIG. 3 but showing a locked state,

FIG. 5 is a like view to FIGS. 3 and 4 but showing a superlocked state,and

FIG. 6 shows a portion of the mechanism in another position of thesuperlocked state.

As is well known in the art a central door locking system providespowered locking of all the doors of a vehicle, and possibly otherclosures such as a boot lid, bonnet and/or petrol flap, simultaneouslye.g. when the driver's or a passenger door is locked externally bymanual operation of a key or possibly by a coded infra red or otherremote control device, and it is known to incorporate a superlockingfacility whereby unlocking cannot be effected by operation of theinternal sill buttons, or door handles or by accessing the door interiorto attempt to displace elements therein.

Parts of such a system are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 with part ofone of the doors 10 depicted in more detail than the others. Door 10includes a unitary door latch and lock mechanism 12 which can bedirectly locked and unlocked externally by use of a key 14 enablingrelease of its latch mechanism by the usual door handles (not shown).The door can also be manually locked and unlocked from the car interiorby a conventional push-pull sill button 16 as referred to hereinafter.

Also mounted within door 10 in association with mechanism 12 is apowered actuator 18 operatively and electrically connected in a centrallocking control circuit 20 having a central control unit 22 and alsoconnections to lock actuators 24-27 shown in block form only in thedrawing, of other doors or closures of the vehicle.

The actuator 18 and its association with mechanism 12 is now describedin detail with reference to FIGS. 2-6. FIG. 2 shows part only of lockmechanism 12 and it is omitted in the remaining figures as it is ofgenerally conventional construction and operation.

Actuator 18 comprises an actuating lever 30 pivoted on a fixed stubshaft 32 mounted on a base plate 34, the latter forming part of anenclosed housing (not shown) of the actuator.

One arm of lever 30 projects from the housing to connect with andoperate the lock mechanism, and lever 30 is selectively power-shiftedbetween an unlocked position shown in heavy lines in FIG. 2 and a lockedposition to which it is turned anti-clockwise, shown in lighter lines inFIG. 2, by a main drive motor 36 of the actuator, the drive beingtransmitted from the latter through a conventional centrifugal clutch38, a meshing pinion and gear wheel 40 and worm shaft 42 carrying a nut44 engaging lever 30.

Actuator 18 further includes linkage comprising an elongate sliding link46 pivotally connected at one end to lever 30 and guided by alongitudinal slot 48 engaging a fixed stud 50 for longitudinalreciprocal movement.

The end of link 46 remote from lever 30 is of increased width anddefines an arcuate first guide slot 52 extending generally laterally ofthe link.

The sill button 16 of door 10 is not connected directly to the lockmechanism 12 as would usually be the case but is operatively connectedto a manual locking lever 54 of actuator 18. Lever 54 is pivoted onanother fixed stub shaft 56 and has a rocker arm 58 in overlappingrelationship with the slotted end of link 46.

Arm 58 defines a second guide slot 60 which is generally L shaped, onelimb of the slot constituting a narrow portion extending generallylongitudinally of arm 58 in the direction of stub shaft 56 and the otherlimb extending generally laterally in an arc co-axial with the axis ofsaid shaft to form a laterally wider lost motion portion at the outerend of said arm.

A drive dog in the form of a floating connecting pin 62 is engaged inboth the first and second guide slots 52 and 60 and is axially captivetherein but free for floating displacement in either or both slotsdepending on their relationship.

The positioning of pin 62 is further controlled by a superlocking lever64 which has one end fulcrumed on fixed stud 50 with its major part alsoin overlapping relationship with the slotted end of link 46 and theslotted portion of rocker arm 58. The end of lever 64 remote from stud50 projects beyond link 46 and is connected to a superlock motor 66 forselective powered actuation through another worm and nut 68, thedirection of drive being generally at right angles to that of worm andnut 42, 44.

A median part of lever 64 defines a third guide slot 70 extendinggenerally longitudinally of that lever and in which pin 62 is alsoengaged.

For better understanding of the drawings the sliding link 46 is shown inemphasized outline in FIG. 2; the superlocking lever 64 is shownlikewise in FIG. 3. The rocker arm 58 of lever 54 is seen clearly inFIGS. 3-6 as it is uppermost.

In the unlocked state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 actuating lever 30 isturned to its most clockwise position drawing link 46 to the left asviewed in the drawing. Superlocking lever 64 is held at its uppermostangular position as viewed in the drawings so that the third guide slot70 is in line with longitudinal slot 48 of link 46 and this holdsfloating pin 62 in the narrow portion of the second guide slot 60 inrocker arm 58. In this position pin 62 connects arm 58 pivotally withlink 46 so that there is positive drive transmission between them. Thus,if sill button 16 is operated to lock door 10 from the inside/lockinglever 54 will be pivoted anti-clockwise pulling link 46 to the right andso shifting lever 30 to the locked position. Similarly if locking iseffected by actuation of main drive motor 36 lever 30 will be powered toits locked position and at the same time the sill button will be drawndown by lever 54.

This locked (but not superlocked) state is illustrated in FIG. 4. Inthis state the lock can still be released by actuation of the sillbutton e.g. by an intruder breaking a window or "fishing" through apartly opened window and it is also possible that the lock could bereleased by inserting a probe into the door from the exterior to engagethe connecting element between the sill button and the locked mechanism.

The substantial added security of superlocking is effected by actuationof superlocking motor 66, drawing lever 64 downwards from the FIGS. 2, 3and 4 position to the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. This shifts pin62 downwards as viewed in the drawings, carrying it along the arcuatefirst guide slot 52 of link 46 and longitudinally away from the axis oflever 54 so that it enters the laterally wide lost motion portion of thesecond guide slot 60.

In this position there is no drive connection between lever 54 and theremainder of the actuator linkage. Pin 62 cannot shift radially alonglever 54 because of its engagement in the third guide slot 70 of lever64. In the superlock state there is lost motion between lever 54 and thelock mechanism and angular displacement of the latter lever cannotrelease the lock. if the sill button should be moved while the actuatoris in the superlocked state drawing lever 54 to the position shown inFIGS. 3 and 6, this could jam the superlocking lever 64 to prevent itsdisplacement to the FIGS. 2-4 position. To ensure that this does nothappen an edge part bounding second guide slot 60 and indicated at 72 inFIG. 6 is angled to provide a camming effect so that as pin 62 is urgedupwards as seen in FIG. 6 by movement of lever 64 it will be urged tothe left along slot 70 to return to the narrow portion of slot 70,restoring the locked or unlocked state of e.g. FIGS. 4 or 3.

If the power should fail or, for any reason, the central locking systemshould become inoperative with the actuator in the superlocked state themechanism can still be overridden by manual actuation of the lock usingthe exterior key 14. On effecting unlocking in this way the mechanism isback driven, actuating lever 30 will be shifted to the unlocked positionof FIG. 2, worm shaft 42 and the pinion of clutch 38 freewheeling, atthe same time drawing link 46 to the left. This will cause pin 62 toride up the third guide slot 70 of lever 64, i.e. shifting it to theleft, even though the latter lever is still at the superlocked positionand this will also turn manual locking lever 54 from its FIG. 5position, at the same time displacing sill button 6.

The arrangement described effects selective and secure superlocking in aparticularly simple and reliable manner, use of the separatesuperlocking motor 66 giving particularly positive operation and alsoproviding flexibility of control by appropriate arrangement of circuit20 of the central locking system and provision of sensing and otherswitches in or associated with the lock mechanisms and/or actuators inknown manner (not shown in the drawings). Also, as the superlockingprovision is self-contained within actuator 18 and the latter forms anindividual unit no special adaptation of the door latch and lockmechanism 12 is required; actuators with or without the superlockingfacility can be provided on different models of vehicle according tochoice and demand and there is no need to build a "free wheeling" orlost motion provision into the mechanism of the lock or latch itself asthis feature is incorporated in the actuator. Furthermore the sensingswitches or contacts of the CDL system may readily be mounted in orprovided on the housing of actuator 18, again providing flexibility ofassembly according to requirements and adaptability to modification andprovision of various operating arrangements. All the external electricalconnections of the system required to each door can all be made, e.g. bya single multi-pole plug or connector, to actuator 18.

We claim:
 1. Power operable door latch and lock mechanism for a vehicle having a central locking system, said mechanism including a power actuator assembly comprising:a) an actuating lever drivingly connected to locking means of the mechanism; b) a main drive motor for selective powered movement of said lever between locked and unlocked positions; c) a manual locking lever for operative connection to a non-key controlled manually operable element; and d) a linkage interconnecting said manual lever to the said actuating lever for manual locking and unlocking independently of said drive motor,i) said linkage including an elongate link connected at one end to an arm of said actuating lever, guided for longitudinal movement, and defining a first guide slot extending generally laterally thereof, ii) said linkage further including a drive dog in the form of a floating connecting pin engaged in said first slot, a rocker arm of said manual locking lever being in overlapping relationship with the part of said link defining said first guide slot and defining a second guide slot co-acting with said pin and shaped to provide a lost motion portion extending co-axially of the axis of said manual locking lever, whereby positioning said pin in said lost motion portion provides a disengaged superlocking position at which motion of said manual lever is precluded from being transmitted through said linkage and to provide a narrow portion extending radially of said lever from the lost motion portion whereby positioning said pin in said narrow portion provides an engaged position at which motion is transmitted between the two levers for locking and unlocking, iii) said linkage further including a superlocking lever defining a third guide slot in engagement with said pin, and positioned to shift said pin selectively between said disengaged and engaged positions without restricting movement of said pin along said lost motion portion of said second guide slot; and iv) said mechanism including a superlocking motor for selective powered movement of said superlocking lever.
 2. A mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said third guide slot is shaped to allow said pin to displace said lever from the superlocking position when said actuating lever is moved from the locked position independently of said linkage whereby, in use, the superlocking condition can be manually overridden by key actuated unlocking of the associated said lock mechanism, without actuation of said superlocking motor.
 3. A mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said second guide slot is angled to provide a camming effect whereby movement of said manual locking lever will not jam said superlocking lever in the superlocked position. 